Protecting Wireless Mesh Networks Against Adverse Weather Conditions

Abstract

Adverse weather conditions can cause deterioration of wireless channels, leading to reduced link capacities. Unlike in other types of networks, in radio-based wireless mesh networks, the link capacities depend not only on the prevailing conditions, but also on interfering transmissions, as well as the transmission power and modulation and coding schemes used. This leads to increased difficulty in modelling and mitigating partial link failures, such as those caused by unfavourable weather. In this paper we present optimisation models for reconfiguration of routing and traffic demand volumes in wireless mesh networks, taking into account transmission power and modulation and coding schemes. We consider both a network planning application and online optimisation in response to failure states as they occur. We conduct a numerical study on a realistic network topology, showing the feasibility of our models for practical implementation.